'As a society we nag kids to get off their phones into the real world, but won’t make room for them here; we put adult convenience first, and are then surprised when children don’t flourish.' Well balanced piece from gabyhinsliff theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Unlocked is currently £4 off at Amazon: amazon.co.uk/Unlocked-Pete-…

Sorry to keep banging on about it, but this book really means a lot to me, and I genuinely think that if you're worried about your own screen time (or those around you), this will help reassure you.

‘This is our street: How community-powered play creates health, happiness and connection’ - @WeAreNewLocal

newlocal.org.uk/articles/commu…

The brainchild of frustrated parents, @PlayingOut has its roots in a single South Bristol street. Growing up in the seventies, friends Amy and…

We are so excited that the UN General Assembly has officially endorsed June 11th as an annual #InternationalDayOfPlay !

Congratulations to the @LegoGroup and @LegoFoundation as well as all our partners in the campaign to put play back on the agenda. #playeveryday

It was also a pleasure to discuss with Hannah Fearn how limitations on outdoorsy play and socialising may have affected boys’ mental health post lockdown theguardian.com/society/2024/m…

Was a pleasure to talk about the need to provide alternative opportunities (OUTDOOR PLAY!) as well as how to take a nuanced and sensible approach to limiting smart phones. inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyl…

The EEF are looking to commission some time of speech and language therapists. Please see below for the chance to work with great colleagues and complete interesting work...

shu.ac.uk/sheffield-inst…

You’re going to see a lot of doom and gloom rhetoric about screens and social media this week

My view is that things aren’t anywhere near as bad as some people make out to be, but regardless of what I or anyone else thinks… >>>

What if we redesigned children's toys to inspire them to envision better cities?

We created a people-friendly upgrade for the classic car playmat. It now features spaces for people, walkable neighborhoods, bike infra, and diverse housing and businesses.

littlebigthinktank.com

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/6559…
My children, and children like them are not entitled to a disabled badge as their walkers aren’t considered bulky medical equipment by our local authority. We must make sure children have access to the community.

🚨 Deadline approaching! 🚨(Closing on 25/3/24)

Don't miss out on this incredible 18 month #postdoc opportunity in Behavioural Epi, Child Health, #RiskyPlay & Digital Intervention development @mrc_epi at Cambridge University!

Apply now: bit.ly/3T6zirb

Pls retweet 🙏

Parents! Carers! Anyone who looks after children! I’ve just got hold of this new book by ⁦Prof Pete Etchells⁩ and I suggest you get one too:

The vital role of 'play' in the happiness of children and teenagers - let's be clear, this is a key part of why we have such unhappy young people. We have created 'indoor/ sedentary' lives for children and it isn't making them happy.

RT plse. Exciting job opportunity for a Research Assistant, to support evaluation of the Gig Buddies befriending scheme for people w learning disabilities. Project is co-led by charity Stay Up Late and UCLUS
stayuplate.org/job-advert-res…

It's #WorldSleepDay !

Sleep underpins our health/wellbeing

Its role in supporting growth/development of children/young people vital, but we don't teach paediatric professionals much about it!

Sleep in kids in general:

ep.bmj.com/content/101/4/…

JR 💙 Evelina London

It was a pleasure to be at the Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) CIC Plan for Play launch event in Westminster today to hear more about this.

‘How a children’s lens in planning shows the way to create better places for everyone’ @TimRGill in Building Centre

buildingcentre.co.uk/news/articles/…

It may not make the front pages, but an ongoing UK Parliament inquiry could be big news for anyone who want to improve the health and…

It was great to speak with The Psychologist about play, communities, and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities enquiry about children, young people, and the built environment. Thanks Ella Rhodes

‘Good quality play looks like freedom, autonomy, and flow…’

Dr Dr Jen Wills Lamacq, an Associate Fellow of British Psychological Society recently gave evidence at a Levelling Up Housing and Communities Committee hearing.

bps.org.uk/psychologist/g…

Fascinating from Kindred Squared
➡️48% teachers say rising cost of childcare is impacting school readiness
➡️57% parents say access to more affordable provision would help prepare kids
Yet Govt excludes too many families from support with the costs
kindredsquared.org.uk/projects/schoo…